Daily Current Affairs October 5, 2024

1. DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 5 October, 2024 Prelims - General Studies I - History & Art and Culture Classical Language Status Context Recently, the Union Cabinet extended classical language status to Marathi, Benga- li, Assamese, Pali, and Prakrit. Prelims Question 1. Consider the following statements with reference to the ‘Classical Language Sta- tus’: 1) Sanskrit was the first language to be given classical status in 2004. 2) There are only Six Classical Languages in India. 3) The language to be classified as classical must have a body of ancient literature/ texts and a history of a period between 1500-2000 years old. Which of the following statement (s) is/are correct? A. 1 only B. 2 Only C. 3 Only D. 1, 2 and 3 Answer: C About ● Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Pali, and Prakrit were included in the list of classical lan- guages of India. ● Previously, the list comprised Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Sanskrit, and Odia. ● The addition of these languages has increased the number of classical languages from six to eleven. ● Tamil was the first language to be given classical status in 2004. It was followed by San- skrit in 2005. Criteria for Classical Language Any language must fulfil certain criteria to be included in the list of classical languages. These are: 3rd Floor, 36 Pusa Road, Above Kalyan Jewellers, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 +91 96676 61547, +91 96676 68174 www.avadhojhaclasses.com

2. ● High Antiquity: The language to be classified as classical language must be ancient. Its early texts or recorded history must belong to a period between 1500-2000 years old. ● Literary Heritage: The language to be classified as classical must have a body of ancient literature/texts which is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers; ● Originality: The literary tradition of the language must be original and not borrowed from another speech community. ● Distinct and Peculiar: The classical language and literature must be distinct from modern literature. ● However, there may also be a discontinuity between the classical language and its later forms or its offshoots. Benefits of Classification as Classical Language Promotion of the Language ● After the classification of a language as a classical language, the Ministry of Education provides certain benefits to promote it. ● It includes the provision of two major annual international awards for scholars of emi- nence in the said languages. Centre of Excellence ● A Centre of Excellence for studies in classical languages is set up. ● Further, the University Grants Commission is requested to start with at least in the Central Universities, a certain number of professional chairs for those languages which have been declared as classical. Employment Generation ● The inclusion of languages such as Classical Languages creates significant employment opportunities, particularly in academic and research fields. ● Further, the preservation, documentation, and digitization of ancient texts of these lan- guages will also generate jobs in archiving, translation, publishing, and digital media. Sources: Press Information Bureau, The Hindu 3rd Floor, 36 Pusa Road, Above Kalyan Jewellers, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 +91 96676 61547, +91 96676 68174 www.avadhojhaclasses.com

3. Prelims - General Studies III - Environment Ecomark Scheme Context Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notified Eco- mark Rules under the Lifestyle for Environment initiative. Prelims Question 1. Consider the following statements with reference to the Ecomark Scheme : 1) The scheme will be implemented by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in partnership with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). 2) It aims to encourage the demand for environment-friendly products aligning with the principles of ‘LIFE’. Which of the following statement (s) is/are correct? A. 1 only B. 2 Only C. Both 1 and 2 D. Neither 1 nor 2 Answer: C About ● The Ecomark Scheme aims to Promote Sustainable Consumption and Eco-Friendly Pro- duction with Strict Environmental Standards. ● The new scheme replaced the Ecomark scheme of 1991. ● Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change ● Implemented By: Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in partnership with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Components of the Scheme Aligning with ‘LIFE’ Initiative ● The scheme aims to encourage the demand for environment-friendly products aligning with the principles of ‘LIFE’. ● The scheme aims to promote lower energy consumption, resource efficiency and circular economy. Accurate Information ● The scheme ensures accurate labelling and prevents misleading information about prod- ucts. 3rd Floor, 36 Pusa Road, Above Kalyan Jewellers, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 +91 96676 61547, +91 96676 68174 www.avadhojhaclasses.com

4. Sustainable Consumption and Production ● Those products which are accredited under the Ecomark Scheme adhere to specific envi- ronmental criteria and ensure minimal environmental impact. ● It also aims to extend consumer awareness of environmental issues and encourage sustain- able consumption. ● The scheme also motivates manufacturers to shift towards environmentally friendly pro- duction. It further strives towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Mission Life: Lifestyle for Environment Initiative ● Mission Life was announced by the Indian Prime Minister at the UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP26) in 2021. ● It aims to bring individual behaviours to the forefront of the global climate action narra- tive. ● The initiative envisions replacing the prevalent ‘use-and-dispose’ economy, which is gov- erned by mindless and destructive consumption, by promoting a circular economy. ● It intends to nudge individuals to undertake simple acts in their daily lives that can contrib- ute significantly to climate change when embraced across the world. Components of the Life Initiative Source: Press Information Bureau 3rd Floor, 36 Pusa Road, Above Kalyan Jewellers, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 +91 96676 61547, +91 96676 68174 www.avadhojhaclasses.com

5. Prelims - General Studies II - Governance Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme in Top Companies (Scheme) Context Recently, the Union Government launched a pilot project to bridge the job market skills gap. Prelims Question 1. Consider the following statements with reference to thePrime Minister’s Intern- ship Scheme in Top Companies (Scheme) : 1) It is an internship scheme launched by the government for graduates and post-grad- uates only. 2) The scheme can be availed by all graduates irrespective of their income. 3) It aims to bridge the gap between the skill sets of unemployable youth and those employers need. Which of the following statement (s) is/are not correct? A. 1 only B. 1 and 2 Only C. 1 and 3 Only D. 1, 2 and 3 Answer: B About ● The union government launched a portal for India’s top 500 companies to participate in the one-year internship scheme. The scheme was announced in the Union Budget (2024- 2025). ● The scheme aims to bridge the gap between the skill sets of unemployable youth and those employers need. ● It is expected to provide one lakh youngsters internships i.e. on-the-job training exercises. ● The scheme is officially called the ‘Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme in Top Compa- nies (Scheme)’. Guaranteed Internship Program ● The centre has provided guaranteed internships under the scheme to candidates who have passed high school or higher secondary school. ● He must possess a certificate from an industrial training institute (ITI), hold a diploma 3rd Floor, 36 Pusa Road, Above Kalyan Jewellers, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 +91 96676 61547, +91 96676 68174 www.avadhojhaclasses.com

6. from a polytechnic institute, or be a graduate with degrees such as BA, B.Sc, B.Com, BCA, BBA, or B.Pharma. Beneficiaries ● The scheme aims to cater for the needs of youngsters in the age group of 21 to 24 years. ● Exemptions: The scheme has exempted certain classes of individuals from the list of beneficiaries. ● These include post-graduates, children of regular and permanent employees in the Central or State governments, graduates from premier institutes like IITs, IIMs and NIDs, and professionals with qualifications like CA, CS, and MBBS. ● Further, any household with an income of more than 8 lakhs has also been exempted from the scheme. Compensation ● The central government will provide a one-time payment of ₹6,000, as well as ₹4,500 for each month of training to the individuals during the period of internship. ● The company which will provide internships will contribute ₹500 per month from its man- datory corporate social responsibility (CSR) corpus. Pilot Project ● Currently, the scheme has been launched as a ‘Pilot Project’ but in future, it will be train- ing more than one crore youths in five years. ● The current project has been launched with an estimated outlay of 800 crore. Self Certification ● The beneficiaries need to self-certify data about their educational qualifications and resi- dential pin codes. Location Oriented Internship ● The scheme aims to provide location-oriented internships in the same districts that the candidates reside in, if possible, or a neighbouring district. Narrowing the Skill Gap ● The scheme aims to narrow the skill gap by helping unemployable youth who may have educational credentials but don’t have the skills for the jobs that the industry has to offer. Source: The Hindu 3rd Floor, 36 Pusa Road, Above Kalyan Jewellers, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 +91 96676 61547, +91 96676 68174 www.avadhojhaclasses.com